White Leadtree

It is a fast-growing tree and gets its name from the Greek words , meaning “white”, and , meaning “head” referring to its flowers.

Young trees can reach a height of over 20 feet in 2 to 3 years. Its pods are edible and eaten with Javanese vegetables salad in Indonesia and with a papaya salad in Laos.

Safed Babool as known in India was promoted for afforestation in the country due to its fast-growing nature. However, it is now considered unsuitable for urban planting as it has a tendency to get uprooted in heavy rain and wind. It is also considered an invasive species in many parts of the world.